The candidates for the third-string running back spot behind Matt Forte and Michael Bush clearly understand what's at stake. And they know special teams might be the deciding factor.

"They've got a great battle going on,'' Toub said. "And this game is important to both of those guys.''

Allen and Booker enter Thursday's game against the Browns with similar resumes on offense. Both have 10 rushes through the first three exhibition games, with Booker picking up 27 yards to Allen's 14. Allen has five catches out of the backfield for 31 yards while Booker has four for 30. Allen has shown a little bit more in terms of blitz pickup despite being two inches shorter and a couple of pounds lighter than the 5-foot-10, 201-pound Booker.

"It's a very important week for me to go out there and compete,'' Allen said. "… You can only control what you can control, and that's me just staying focused and going out there trying to be on the right page.''

The 28-year-old Booker, however, owns a decisive edge over the 23-year-old Allen on special teams. Booker returned a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown against the Redskins and has 177 total yards on three kickoff returns. It's hard to imagine Booker surpassing Devin Hester or Eric Weems as the primary kickoff returner, but at least he has given the coaches something to consider.

"This game means the same to me as the others ones," Booker said. "I'm just going to go out there and do my job. I'll just let the chips fall.''

Booker certainly grabbed coach Lovie Smith's attention.

"When you get a chance, you need a splash play to make everybody take notice,'' Smith said. "The kickoff return did that. He has a history in the league too. In every situation we've put him in we've seen something special from him. He's a little bit different than our other running backs too — a quick guy — so he brings a different dimension.''

At the same time, Smith has been complimentary of Allen throughout the preseason.

"We've seen him in game action, too, at the end of last year,'' Smith said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do. He can play special teams. He can return. We have a pretty good idea how we would use him if he is on the roster."

The Bears have to cut their 75-man roster to 53 by Friday evening. Allen, from Notre Dame, was cut by the Buccaneers in 2011 after signing with them as an undrafted rookie. Booker entered the league as a third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2007 and was cut by the Eagles and not re-signed by the Vikings before joining the Bears.

The Bears already made one financial decision involving the third running back spot when they waived Kahlil Bell, who was unwilling to reduce his salary from $1.26 million to $700,000. If money remains a concern at the spot, Booker is due to make $700,000 this season and Allen $390,000.